Excerpt: The Just Dessert

Mauris got into his car. Tania moved to follow him and Rodger, as usual, followed her lead, hopping into the car. Don leaned over his open door and called to Tania.

"Tania, why don't you ride with me? I've got some questions for you."

Tania opened Mauris door and slid in. "I don't do questions." She slammed the door shut, hard enough that the boys jumped in their seats.

"So you like having to check in with your officer everyday? You wouldn't be interested in maybe doing a different sort of program, one with more freedoms and more responsibilities? Ah well, your loss girlie." Don sat down and, hooking the door with his foot, pulled it shut.

Tania arched an eyebrow but hadn't reacted further when Don started his Jeep and dropped it into reverse. The tires spun a little on the dusty gravel, kicking dirt and pebbles into a little cloud. Tania pushed the car door open and stood up, her hair flipping in the breeze her motion made.

"What the ... what are you talking about," she yelled.

Don hit the brakes and the jeep stopped throwing up a dust devil. "Get in," he yelled and kicked open the passenger door.

Rodger made a motion like he was going to get out of Mauris' car and follow her, but Don made a slicing, cutting motion with his hand in the air and said, "Sycophant stay."

While Tania ran around the Jeep and climbed in, Rodger and Mauris looked at each other through the rear view mirror and shrugged in confusion.

"What the heck does a sick infant have to do with you?" Mauris asked.

"No, he said sycophant. It's like a brown-noser or something. I think he just insulted me." Rodger said.